Characterization of the e ective cellulose degrading strain CTL-6

An e cient cellulose degrading bacteria exists in the thermophilic wheat straw-degrading community, WDC2. However, this strain cannot be isolated and cultured using conventional separation techniques under strict anaerobic conditions. We successfully isolated a strain of e ective cellulose degrading bacteria CTL-6 using a wash, heat shock, and solid-liquid alternating process. Analysis of its properties revealed that, although the community containing the strain CTL-6 grew under aerobic conditions, the purified strain CTL-6 only grew under anaerobic culture conditions. The strain CTL-6 had a striking capability of degrading cellulose (80.9% weight loss after 9 days of culture). The highest e ciency value of the endocellulase (CMCase activity) was 0.404 mol/(min mL), cellulose degradation e ciency by CTL-6 was remarkably high at 50–65°C with the highest degradation e ciency observed at 60°C. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that the closest relative to strain CTL-6 belonged to the genus Clostridium thermocellum. Strain CTL-6 was capable of utilizing cellulose, cellobiose, and glucose. Strain CTL-6 also grew with Sorbitol as the sole carbon source, whereas C. thermocellum is unable to do so.     

Job Redesign Needs for Aged Workers

The aim of this paper is to explore and present a proposal for redesigning elements of the workplace for agech workers. The method of research was to observe, record, and measure the actions of sitting workers performing assembly operations on electrical products in the Kani Plant Nagoya Works of Mitsubishi Electric Co. (Japan). The evaluation index used in the experiment was obtained by measuring time motion elements, cycle time per product, and motion velocity waves of elderly workers. Those motion characteristics were then compared to the motion characteristics of young workers. The results led to job redesign elements being identified to reduce handling factors of high difficulty for aged workers and to the necessity to consider a coefficient of correction in Method Time Measurement (MTM) according to differences in the manufactured object’s weight.     

Large-scale evaluation of the current level of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in breast milk from 13 regions of Japan

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were measured in 2004 in 105 breast milk samples collected from 13 regions of Japan (Hokkaido, Akita, Miyagi, Tokyo, Gifu, Fukui, Kyoto, Hyogo, Wakayama, Shimane, Yamaguchi, Kochi and Okinawa). Six congeners (BDE-28, BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-153 and BDE-154) were determined by gas chromatography /mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Total PBDE levels ranged from 0.01 to 23.0 ng/g lipid (geometric mean (GM), 1.34 ng/g lipid). BDE-47 (GM, 0.66 ng/g lipid, 59% of sigmaPBDE) was the most abundant congener present in breast milk and was detected in 99% of the samples. Total PBDE levels were higher in northern Japan than in other regions. We analyzed the effects of occupation, age, smoking status, alcohol consumption and number of deliveries on total PBDE levels. None of these factors were significantly associated with the level of PBDEs. The present study revealed that the current level of exposure to PBDEs in Japan is lower than that in the USA or Sweden. GMs (ng/g lipid) (GSD, geometric standard deviation) and medians (ng/g lipid) of PBDE levels in each district are as follows: Hokkaido 2.70 (1.70), 2.74; Akita 4.49 (2.19), 5.44; Miyagi 1.77 (4.37), 1.11; Tokyo 1.39 (2.09), 1.63, Gifu 2.83 (4.79), 2.23; Fukui 1.05 (2.34), 1.18; Kyoto 1.31 (2.95), 1.33; Hyogo 1.02 (2.69), 0.88; Wakayama 1.33 (3.80), 1.70; Shimane 0.83 (2.51), 0.66; Yamaguchi 1.74 (2.82), 1.76; Kochi 0.50 (2.69), 0.74 and Okinawa 1.91 (2.75), 1.22. This is the first large-scale study of current PBDE levels in breast milk in Japan.     

Accumulation and Chemical Fractionation of Heavy Metals in Andisols after a Different, 6-year Fertilization Management (8 pp)

Goal, Scope and Background Andisols are widespread in Japan and have some special properties such as high anion exchange capacity, low bulk density, and high organic matter content, which might influence the accumulation or chemical fractionation of heavy metals. However, few such data exist in Japanese andisols. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the distribution and chemical fractions of Cu, Zn, Ni, and Cr in the soil profiles and subsequently to assess their potential environmental hazard. Materials and Methods Soil samples were taken from a field experiment conducted on Japanese andisols, which had received either swine compost or chemical fertilizers for 6 years. Concentrations of Cu, Zn, Ni, and Cr were determined for all of the obtained extract solutions by ICP-AES. Results and Discussion Considerably higher total concentrations of Cu and Zn were observed in the top 20 cm layer of the compost-amended soil, relative to the unfertilized soil, while chemical fertilizers had little effect. Application of the swine compost increased the concentrations of Cu and Zn, but not Ni and Cr, in all fractions in the top 20 cm layer. The greatest increase in the organically bound fraction (OM) Cu and dilute acid-exchangeable fraction (DAEXCH) Zn was observed. This suggests that Cu and Zn are potentially bioavailable and mobile in the andisol profiles after 6-year consecutive applications of the swine compost. On the other hand, distribution of Cu, Zn, Ni and Cr among various soil fractions was generally unaffected by chemical fertilizers. Conclusions We observed that 6-year consecutive applications of the swine compost led to an increase in total metals of Cu and Zn, as well as their all-chemical fractions, in the top 20 cm soil layers. Potential hazard of heavy metals, especially of Cu and Zn, as a result of the use of swine compost on andisols, must be taken into account. Recommendations and Outlook The long-term effect of the accumulation of heavy metals, particularly Cu and Zn, in various plant tissues and soils, as well as their potential risk to surface water via runoff and groundwater via leaching, needs to be carefully considered. Further investigations in the long-term experiments are therefore necessary. - Abbreviations. EXCH, exchangeable fraction of metals; DAEXCH, dilute acid-exchangeable fraction of metals; FeMnOX, iron and manganese-oxide-bound fraction; OM, organically-bound fraction; RESD, residual fraction. COMPOST, SRNF, RANF, and CONTROL stand for compost (from swine wastes), slow-release nitrogen fertilizer (coated urea), readily available nitrogen fertilizer (including NH4-N, P, and K fertilizers), and no fertilizer application, respectively.     

Experiments and numerical simulation on methane flame quenching by water mist

The study of extinguishment using water mist has been motivated due to the phase-out of the use of halens and the search for alternative means that preserve all of the benefits of a clean total flooding agent without adverse environmental impact. With the numerical simulation, we analyzed a gas–liquid two-phase problem including water (liquid), air and methane (gas) using Eulerian equations for the liquid phase and the full Navier–Stokes equations for the gas phase. Gaseous mass, momentum and energy equations are integrated simultaneously by a Harten–Yee explicit non-MUSCL modified-flux type TVD scheme for the convective terms and a central difference scheme for the viscous terms. Liquid phase conservation equations are solved with an application of a flux-vector-splitting scheme. In the experiments in an open room (500×500×500 mm) we observed an interaction of the diffusion flame with the water mists. The results show remarkable flame quenching and a good agreement between the numerical and experimental results.     

Peak wind speed modulation by large-scale motions in neutrally stratified atmospheric surface layer

Environmental Fluid Mechanics - This study applies the models describing the effect of a neutrally stratified high-Reynolds-number boundary layer on peak wind estimation. A neutrally stratified...